Combination electric clock and sign



Aug. 7, 1934. BLOC 1,968,987

COMBINATION ELECTRIC CLOCK mm s'm h Filed Nov. 6, 1931 v I mmv'rozn 66BY 7 ATTORNE'Y latenteu Aug. l, 130*:

-UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,988,987 COMBINATION ELECTRIC CLOCK ANDSIGN Joseph Block, Brooklyn, N. Y. Application November 6, 1931, SerialNo. 573,367 13 Claims. (o1. ass-5o) This invention relates to clocks andis particularly directed to a combination illuminated electric clock andsign.

An object of this invention is to provide a clock of the characterdescribed having electrical illuminating means and improved means foreffectively insulating the clock mechanism from the heat of theilluminating means.

A further object of this invention is to provide in a clock of thecharacter described, heat insulating means constructed to serve also asa reflector and background for effectively illuminating the clock dial.

A further object of this invention is to provide a neat, compact andrugged combination electric clock and display sign of the characterdescribed which shall be highly attractive in appearance, which shallhave means for illuminating the clock dial and other advertising matteron the clock, be comparatively inexpensive to manufacture, comprise fewand simple parts, easy to assemble, and yet be practical and efficientto a high degree in use.

Other objects of this invention will in part be obvious and in parthereinafter pointed out.

The invention accordingly consists in the I features of construction,combinations of elemerits, and arrangement of parts which will beexemplified in the construction hereinafter described, and of which thescope of application will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawing, in which is shown one of the variouspossible illustrative embodiments of this invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevational view of a clock embodying the inventionwith the plate carrying the advertising matter slightly moved out ofplace;

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the clock with the frontthereof removed and parts brokenaway to show the interior construction.

Referring now in detail to the drawing, 10 designates a clock embodyingthe invention here shown in the form of an electrically illuminatedcombination electric clock and sign, and comprises a box or casing 11having a rear wall 12, side walls 13 and 14, a bottom wall 15 and a topwall 16. closed by a wall 17 having flanges 18 receiving side edges ofthe front top and side walls and attached thereto in any suitablemanner.

For the purpose hereinafter set forth, there The front of the clock canbe is attached to the rear wall 12 adjacent the upper portion thereof, acup-shaped member 20 having a circular rim edge 21 contacting the rearwall 12. The attachment may be effected by means of a pair ofdiametrically disposed clamps 24 secured to the rear wall by bolts 25 orin any other suitable manner, and engaging said edge 21. The member 20is provided with a substantially conical or tapering wall portion 26 andwith a flat front wall 2'7 substantially in the plane of the front wall17, the latter being formed with a circular opening 28 concentric withsaid front wall 27 of the member 20. The member 20 may be made of heatinsulating material such as pressed asbestos or may be provided with anasbestos liner 29 in the inner surface thereof. Mounted within themember- 20 is a second cup-shaped member 31 having a wall 32 contactingthe inner surface of the wall 2'7, and an outwardly flaring wall 33spaced from said wall 26 of the member 20. The member 31 may likewise beprovided with an asbestos or the like insulating liner 35, or may bemade of a single piece of heat insulating material. Mounted within themember 31 is a third cup-shaped member 36 having a wall 3"! contactingthe inner surface of the wall 32, and a cylindrical wall 39 projectingrearwardly toward the rear wall 12 of the casing. The member 36 maylikewise be made of heat insulating material or may be lined with anasbestos liner 40.

It will thus be seen that the nesting cupshaped members 20, 31 and 36form an effective heat insulation between the chamber within the cup 36and the portion of the casing outside of the member 20. Mounted withinthe cup 36 is an electric clock mechanism 40a of any suitable well knowntype, operated by a synchronous motor. The contacting walls 27, 32 and37 may be formed with registering openings and attached together bymeans of a tubular bushing 41 extending through said openings andcarrying the shafts for the hour hand 42, the minute hand 43 and thesecond hand 44 of the clock. It will be noted that the three handsextend over the front wall 17 of the casing and overlap the edge portion46 of said front wall around the opening 28. Said edge portion 46 may beprovided with out out portions or stenciled indicia or marks 47 torepresent the hours, for example, numbers 1 to 12, inclusive. The endsof the clock thus cooperate with the stencilled indicia 47 which formthe dial of the clock. It will also be noted that the front surface ofthe wall 2'7 as well as a portion of the tapering wall 26 of the member20 may be seen from the front of the clock through the opening 28 in thefront face 17 oi. the casing. The member 20 thus forms a background forthe clock hands and for the cut out portions 4'7.

' For illuminating the clock there is provided within the casing 11 andattached to the bottom, top and side walls thereof, a number of clampsor clips 50 for mounting a plurality of sockets 51 wired by means ofwires 52, preferably in parallel circuit, to said casing. Any number ofsockets arranged in any suitable manner may be provided for effectivelydistributing the illumination within the casing. The wires 52 may extendthrough a bushing 54 in the rear wall of the casing and terminate in aplug 55 or any other suitable attachment fitting for connection to asource of electricity. Wires 56 connected across the wires 52 inparallel circuit pass beneath the rim '21 of the member 20 into theinterior of the cup 36 for supplying current to the synchronous motorfor the clock, said rim 21 being formed with a cut out notch for thispurpose. Small lamps 59 preferably of about 110 volts and having coloredbulbs, may be attached to the sockets 51 for decoratively illuminatingthe clock. It will be noted that the light will be reflected from theouter surface of the wall 26 through the stencilled or cut out portions4'7. Also the light from the lamp will illuminate the wall 27 of saidmember 20. The member 20 thus acts as a background and reflector forilluminating the dial.

The member 20 as well as the members 31 and 36 further serve to preventthe heat of the lamps from affecting the motor and parts, and fromdrying up the lubricating oil within the clock works thus permitting thesame to be used for long periods without necessitating change of oil.The rear wall 17 of the clock is preferably formed with a plurality ofopenings 60 in the portion thereof which covers the rear of the member20 to permit circulation of air within and around the clock works.

The member 10 may be further provided with any suitable stencilledadvertising matter, for example, in the form of a plate 65 slidably orremovably mounted on the front wall 17. The plate may be mounted on apair of parallel guides 66 attached to the front wall which is cut outas at 67 for this purpose. The plate 65 may likewise be provided withstencilled cut out portions 68, in the form of advertising or displaymatter, to permit the light within the sign to pass through said out outportions. The plate 65 may be provided with a border member 69 attachedto one side edge thereof to harmonize in design with the guides 66 and aborder simulating portion 70 on wall 17, at one side of opening 6'7, toprovide a proper frame for said plate. The casing may be furtherprovided with a pair of eyelets 71 attached to the top thereof forhanging the sign on any suitable support.

It will thus be seen that there is provided a device in which theseveral objects of this invention are achieved, and which is welladapted to meet the conditions of practical use.

As various possible embodiments might be made of the above invention,and as various changes might be made in the embodiment set forth, it isto be understood that all matter herein set forth or shown in theaccompanying drawing, is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in alimiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secureby Letters Patent- 1. In combination, a casing, a clock mechanismtherein, electric illuminating means within said casing, and means forinsulating said mechanism from the heat of said illuminating means, saidmeans comprising a plurality of nesting cup-shaped members housing saidmechanism.

2. In combination, a casing, an electric clock mechanism therein, a wallof said casing having cut out portions therein, clock hands for" saidmechanism disposed adjacent said wall of said casing adapted to traversesaid openings, electric illuminating means within said casing, and meansfor insulating said mechanism from the heat of said illuminating means,said insulating means comprising an outwardly flaring member adapted toreflect light from said illuminating means to said cut out portions.

3. In combination, a casing having a rear and a front wall, a cup shapedmember having a rim edge attached to said rear wall and forming achamber therewith, electric clock mechanism within said chamber, saidfront wall having cut out portions in the form of clock dial indicia forsaid clock, clock hands operated by said mechanism, movable over thefront wall of said cup shaped member and adapted to traverse said outout portions, and electric illuminating means within said casing.

4. In combination, a casing having a rear and a front wall, a cup-shapedmember having a rim edge attached to said rear wall and forming achamber therewith, electric clock, mechanism within said chamber, saidfront wall having cut out portions in the form'of clock dial indicia forsaid clock, clock hands operated by said mechanism, movable over thefront wall of said cupshaped member and adapted to traverse said out outportions, and electric illuminating means within said casing, saidcup-shaped member having a tapering wall adapted to reflect light fromsaid illuminating means to said cut out portions.

5. In combination, a casing having a rear and 120 a front wall, acup-shaped member having a rim edge attached to said rear wall andforming a chamber therewith, electric clock mechanism within saidchamber, said front wall having cut out portions in the form of clockdial indiciafor said clock, and electric illuminating means within saidcasing, said cup-shaped member being made of heat insulating material.

6. In combination, a casing having a rear and a front wall, a cup-shapedmember having a rim edge attached to said rear wall and forming achamber therewith, electric clock mechanism within said chamber, saidfront wall having cut out portions in the form of clock dial indicia forsaid clock, clock hands operated by said mechanism, movable over thefront wall of said cupshaped member and adapted to traverse said out outportions, and electric illuminating means within said casing, saidcup-shaped member being made of heat insulating material.

7. In combination, a casing having a rear wall and a front wall, saidfront wall being formed with a circular opening, a housing member withinsaid casing flaring outwardly toward said rear wall, aligned with saidopening, electric clock mechanism within said housing memher, and clockhands operated by said mechanism and overlying said front face of saidcasing at said opening.

8. In combination, a casing having a rear wall 150 and a front wall,said front wall being formed with'a circular opening, a cup-shapedhousing member within said casing, aligned with said opening, electricclock mechanism within said housing member, clock hands operated by saidmechanism. movable over the front wall of said cup-shaped member andadapted to traverse said out out portions, and electric illuminatingmeans in said casing, said front wall having clock dial indicia cut outportions at the edge portion thereof formed by said circular opening,said housing member having a wall flaring outwardly toward said rearwall forming a backing for said out out portions and a reflector forlight from said illuminating means.

9. In combination, a casing having a rear wall and a front wall, saidfront wall being formed with a circular opening, a housing member withinsaid casing, aligned with said opening, electric clock mechanism withinsaid housing member, and electric illuminating means in said casing,said front wall having clock dial indicia cut out portions at the edgeportion thereof formed by said'circular opening, said member having awall portion flaring outwardly toward said rear wall forming a backingfor said out out portions and a reflector for light from saidilluminating means, said members being made of heat insulating material.

10. In combination, a casing having a rear wall and a front wall, saidfront wall being formed with a circular opening, a housing member withinsaid casing, aligned with said opening, electric clock mechanism withinsaid housing member, clock hands operated by said mechanism, movableover the front wall of said hens-r ing member and adapted to traversesaid cut out portions, and electric illuminating means in said casing,said front wall having clock dial indicia cut out portions at the edgeportion thereof formed by said circular opening, said member having awall portion inclined toward said rear wall, forming a backing for saidcut out portions and a reflector for light from said illuminating means,said member being made of heat insulating material.

11. In combination, a casing having a rear wall and a front wall, saidfront wall being formed with an opening, a cup-shaped member havinga'rim edge attached to said rear wall and forming a chamber therewith,said memberhaving a bottom wall portion aligned with said opening and anoutwardly tapering wall portion extending toward said rear wall,electric clock mechanism within said chamber, clock hands operated bysaid mechanism and movable over the bottom wall of said cup-shapedmember, and a plurality of electric lamps within said casing.

12. A display device comprising a casing, having a wall provided withcut out portions, a synchronous motor and gearing attached theretomounted within said casing, electric illuminating means within saidcasing and a member interposed between said motor and gearing and saidilluminating means for insulating said motor and gearing from the heatof said illuminating means, said member being aligned with and forming abackground for said out out portions.

13. A display device comprising a casing having a rear wall, and a frontwall formed with cut out portions, a conical cup-shaped member attachedto said rear wall and forming a backing for said cut out portion, and anelectric clock housed within and mounted on said cupshaped member.

JOSEPH BLOCK.

